Knee decisions — 2020

Service connection is granted for degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine. Service connection is denied for bilateral knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the left knee, secondary to a service-connected fracture. The psychiatric disorder claim is remanded due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need to verify periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA. The VA will also arrange for a VA audiology examination and orthopedic examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his tinnitus and current right knee, shoulder, and neck disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee and left knee disabilities prior to November 13, 2015 were denied as the evidence did not show flexion or extension limitations that would warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his post-operative fracture of the left femur, now with degenerative arthritis of the left knee joint remains in appellate status. The Board has found that the evidence does not more nearly approximate extension limited to 30 degrees and thus denied the claim.

The Veteran's left knee instability is rated at 30 percent effective April 2, 2015. The rating for limitation of extension remains denied. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a right knee disability and increased ratings for thoracolumbar spine spondylosis with intervertebral disc syndrome status post discectomy L5-S1, radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, right lower extremity, and radiculopathy, femoral nerve, right lower extremity were denied as there is no current evidence of a right knee disability. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 10%.

The Board has remanded the case due to new and material evidence presented by the Veteran, reopening her previously denied claim for service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease associated with status post left total knee arthroplasty. The case is now pending before the RO for further review.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee condition, finding that there was no evidence of onset in or relation to service and that it is not related to his service-connected lower back disability.

The Veteran's service connection claims for plantar fasciitis, right knee retropatellar pain syndrome, and left knee retropatellar pain syndrome have been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an MRI report from November 4, 2019. The claim will be returned for further development and consideration.

The Board has ordered a remand for another examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, including osteoarthritis of the left knee and right knee degenerative joint disease. The remand also includes an assessment of instability in the right knee.

Service connection for a right knee disability is granted.,Service connection for a left hip disability is granted.,Service connection for a right hip disability is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a left knee disability and an initial compensable rating for a left face scar due to incomplete development of records and need for additional medical opinions.

The appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is dismissed. The remaining issues of service connection for various shoulder, cervical spine, hip, knee, and ankle disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including providing a new VA examination and opinion to determine the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and left knee disability.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, left knee disability, ischemic heart disease, lung disability, and sleep apnea. The temporary total disability rating for convalescence after left knee surgery is also denied as a matter of law. The Veteran's psychiatric disability is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU was withdrawn. For the left knee, a rating in excess of 20 percent is not warranted from May 20, 2015 to November 7, 2018. For the right knee, a separate rating of 10 percent for recurrent subluxation or lateral instability is granted from November 7, 2018.

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. For the initial rating period from August 11, 2016, a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee DJD and instability is denied. TDIU for the period from December 20, 2011 to March 28, 2013 (excluding the period from November 28, 2012 to January 1, 2013 when the Veteran has a 100 percent (total) schedular rating) is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to issues related to the potential ameliorative effects of his medications on his lumbar spine sprain with degenerative arthritis and left knee patellar tendonitis with degenerative arthritis.